Sexual Harassment as a Social Issue and My Solutions

Sexual Harassment as a Social Issue and My Solutions

Sexual harassment is one of the common social problems in the world now-a-days. Besides many other countries, Bangladesh is also suffering from this problem. It is causing severe damage to the physical and mental health of the girls and also leading them to suicides. As a girl and a young ambassador, I really feel the impact of this issue and will certainly put my efforts to resolving it.  Throughout my essay, I will be discussing the current situation of sexual harassment in Bangladesh by providing the effects. At the end of the essay, I will be providing some solutions to this problem and how the solutions can be benefited from my participation in the Civic Education Workshop.

The term "Sexual Harassment" first came into use in the late 1970 s in the United States. In 1979, Catherine MacKinnon, a legal scholar from the United States, made the first argument that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by the constitution and civil rights laws of the United States. Since then many international bodies, national legislature and courts have prohibited it. According to American Councils, "Sexual harassment" is unwanted sexual or romantic attention from an adult. Some types of sexual harassment are: 1. Unwanted physical contact. 2. Visual abuse. 3. Verbal abuse, 4.Body language.

Sexual harassment is a gender discrimination and against human rights mainly for girls. Besides many countries, the girls of Bangladesh are forced to deal with harassment. Many girls are not being able to raise voice against it socially and physically due to their weakness. They also lack self-confidence and minimum level of knowledge about their rights.  The adolescent girls (10-18) are mostly affected by sexual harassment. According to The International Journal of Social Sciences (published: 30th September, 2013),"Sexual harassment has become one of the severest problems of Bangladesh. It severely infringes the freedom and right of mobility of a girl, 90% girls between the ages of 10-18 are affected by sexual harassment. It has been reached to such an alarming situation that many girls committed suicide. Many female students are forced to stay at home giving up their studies." For an adolescent female student, going to school/college is not a fact of pleasure when she is concerned of her safety on the streets.

On December 18, 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was opened for signature (Source: www.lawjournalbd.com). The treaty came into force and closed for signature on September 3, 1981 with the ratification of 20 states. CEDAW is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Bangladesh has signed its commitments to the CEDAW in 1984 but it is a fact of repentance that still now the girls are being sexually harassed in the world as well as in Bangladesh. It is because of the lack of consciousness and social awareness. The laws are not properly enforced because of the lack in woman empowerment and their voice against sexual harassment. The solution for this problem is to inspire the mass people for social awareness against sexual harassment and arrange different programs to empower the girls to voice against it.